The Endocannabinoid System: A quick overview
Your body is equipped with a marvelous communications system whose chief function is to foster an atmosphere of homeostasis, that state when the internal climate from skin to core is in perfect balance, regardless of what's going on outside the protective shell of skin. A body in homeostasis has no place for disease.
This communications system is your Endocannabinoid System (ECS). Endo, a prefix from Greek endon meaning "within, inner, absorbing, or containing", cannabanoid for the plant that led to the discovery of this system that reaches every part of your body, the brain, organs, connective tissues, glands, and immune cells. You'll find endocannabinoids and their receptors everywhere you look. The ECS is a bridge between mind and body, an insightful thought that explains why a reduced stress level and positive mindset can influence healing and health maintenance.
It's believed that cannabanoid receptors, found in the cell membranes, are the predominant cell receptors in the body. Their stimulation causes a variety of physiological changes. The sheer number of cannabanoid receptors throughout the body points to the importance of the ECS. We're still in the infancy stage of understanding the ECS, hobbled almost planet wide by an antiquated and frustrating climate of prohibition that drastically restricts research, but there are some important things we've learned.
Two types of cannabinoid receptors have been identified:
* CB1 receptors are mostly found in the nervous system, connective tissues, gonads, glands and organs.
* CB2 receptors are mostly found in the immune system, which includes the lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, lymphocytes, thymus and leukocytes.
Many cells have both types of receptors, charged with different responses. There's scientific speculation of a third receptor and in time there may be others found.
* Endocannabinoids are created by your own body to stimulate these abundant receptors. The two best known molecules are anandamide and 2-arachidonoyglycerol (2-AG). The body synthesizes them on demand right where the need arises. They have a short half-life before specialized enzymes begin to degrade them.
* Phytocannabinoids are plant-produced cannabanoids that mirror the action of the body's own cannabanoids. Herein lies the magic of Concentrated Cannabis Oil (CCO). You have the potential to dramatically increase the presence of cannabanoids when your body can't produce enough due to stress or disease. The phytocannabinoids most of us are familiar with are Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabinol (CBN). More cannabanoids are being discovered in cannabis all the time, and they work synergistically, meaning they team up to create better health with less side effects than if you used them individually.
This was a simplistic explanation of the ECS. There are increasing resources available for further investigation, if you're so inclined. Simply Google Endocannabinoid System and begin your in-depth study. Numerous YouTube videos exist to explain this important system working overtime to keep you healthy. Seek them out at your leisure. As this blog evolves we'll be exploring the ECS in more depth, particularly as to how CCO enhances the system and how you can further enhance your own ECS through other means. Overcoming disease is a multi-disciplinary adventure.
Your body is equipped with a marvelous communications system whose chief function is to foster an atmosphere of homeostasis, that state when the internal climate from skin to core is in perfect balance, regardless of what's going on outside the protective shell of skin. A body in homeostasis has no place for disease.
This communications system is your Endocannabinoid System (ECS). Endo, a prefix from Greek endon meaning "within, inner, absorbing, or containing", cannabanoid for the plant that led to the discovery of this system that reaches every part of your body, the brain, organs, connective tissues, glands, and immune cells. You'll find endocannabinoids and their receptors everywhere you look. The ECS is a bridge between mind and body, an insightful thought that explains why a reduced stress level and positive mindset can influence healing and health maintenance.
It's believed that cannabanoid receptors, found in the cell membranes, are the predominant cell receptors in the body. Their stimulation causes a variety of physiological changes. The sheer number of cannabanoid receptors throughout the body points to the importance of the ECS. We're still in the infancy stage of understanding the ECS, hobbled almost planet wide by an antiquated and frustrating climate of prohibition that drastically restricts research, but there are some important things we've learned.
Two types of cannabinoid receptors have been identified:
* CB1 receptors are mostly found in the nervous system, connective tissues, gonads, glands and organs.
* CB2 receptors are mostly found in the immune system, which includes the lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, lymphocytes, thymus and leukocytes.
Many cells have both types of receptors, charged with different responses. There's scientific speculation of a third receptor and in time there may be others found.
* Endocannabinoids are created by your own body to stimulate these abundant receptors. The two best known molecules are anandamide and 2-arachidonoyglycerol (2-AG). The body synthesizes them on demand right where the need arises. They have a short half-life before specialized enzymes begin to degrade them.
* Phytocannabinoids are plant-produced cannabanoids that mirror the action of the body's own cannabanoids. Herein lies the magic of Concentrated Cannabis Oil (CCO). You have the potential to dramatically increase the presence of cannabanoids when your body can't produce enough due to stress or disease. The phytocannabinoids most of us are familiar with are Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabinol (CBN). More cannabanoids are being discovered in cannabis all the time, and they work synergistically, meaning they team up to create better health with less side effects than if you used them individually.
This was a simplistic explanation of the ECS. There are increasing resources available for further investigation, if you're so inclined. Simply Google Endocannabinoid System and begin your in-depth study. Numerous YouTube videos exist to explain this important system working overtime to keep you healthy. Seek them out at your leisure. As this blog evolves we'll be exploring the ECS in more depth, particularly as to how CCO enhances the system and how you can further enhance your own ECS through other means. Overcoming disease is a multi-disciplinary adventure.
